Side-stripping cartridge belt link



June 4, 1957 B. DARSIE 9 13 SIDE-STRIPPING CARTRIDGE BELT LINK FiledDec. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l fig i IN VEN TOR. l jurn 5 Eur 51E H 7'TOENE Y5 June 4, 1957 B. DARSIE 2,794,369

SIDE-STRIPPING CARTRIDGE BELT LINK Filed D80. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2HTTOENEYS at V A 2,794,369 Patented June 4, 1957 SIDE-STRIPPINGCARTRIDGE BELT LINK Burns Darcie, Rockford, 111., assignor to the UnitedStates of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyApplication December 14, 1954, Serial No. 475,320

8 Claims. (Cl, 89-35) This invention relates to ammunition belts andmore particularly to a disintegrating cartridge link belt wherein theconnection between adjacent links is effected by means independent ofthe cartridges associated therewith.

High-speed machine guns and automatic cannon are customarily suppliedwith cartridges which are belted together by means of a plurality ofidentical link members of the type wherein a connecting loop on one linkfits between a pair of spaced-apart cartridge-gripping loops on theadjacent link to form a hinge in which the cartridge itself acts as apintle. Experience has indicated that the aforesaid type of cartridgebelt link is particularly well adapted for use with those firearmswherein the feeding mechanism thereof is designed to push or pull eachcartridge out of engagement with the links associated therewith along anaxis substantially in alignment with or parallel to the bore axis of thefirearm barrel. However, certain other firearms utilize feedingmechanisms which prepare the cartridges for chambering by camming themlaterally out of the links associated therewith and consequently requirethat the connection between adjacent links consists of means other thanthe disintegrating coupling provided by the cartridge itself.

One such type of cartridge belt link comprises a unitary member adaptedto hold a single cartridge and joined to the adjacent link by anindependent connector. While this type of link connection isparticularly adapted for cartridge feeding mechanisms which extract or,as is more commonly termed, strip the cartridges laterally from thebelt, experience has indicated that separate link connectors are unableto withstand the high loads imparted thereto in the operation ofhigh-speed aircraft firearms. These high loads are due to thecombination of the axial pull produced by the transverse feedingmovements of the ammunition belt toward the firearm and the helical pullproduced by the turning and twisting movements between adjacent linksduring the passage of the ammunition belt out of the storage box andaround the various feed and guide rollers or chutes which are normallyprovided in the confined quarters customarily encountered in aircraftmountings. Attempts to strengthen the cross-sectional area of theseindependent connectors sufiiciently to prevent breakage have invariablyreduced the relative flexibility between adjacent links below theminimum amount necessary to follow the convolutions of conventionalchuting which often provide as much as a 90 change in direction. Otherattempts to strengthen these connectors by suitable heat treatment orselection of special alloys have been equally unsuccessful or at besthave resulted in such added expense as to prohibit practical massproduction of expendable type links.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcartridge belt link of the type in which the cartridges are strippedlaterally therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improvedcartridge be'lt link which does not require the use of the cartridgeitself to effect a disintegrating connection between adjacent links.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved connection between adjacent cartridge belt links whichincludes novel means for limiting the relative helical movementtherebetween to which the links are subjected during feeding of anammunition belt along a path involving changes in direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcartridge belt link adapted to be joined to the link adjacent thereto bya separate connector and of such construction that the body portion ofone link cooperates with the body portion of the adjacent link toprevent the transfer of twisting forces to the connector.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a strong,non-deformable, disintegrating connection between adjacent lightweightcartridge belt links wherein the distance therebetween can be reduced toa minimum and still permit a limited amount of free helical twistingmovement.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a onepiece cartridge beltlink is provided with a spaced-apart pair of open cartridge-grippingloops having a substantially elliptical cartridge encircling portiontherebetween of substantially channel-shaped cross section. One end ofthis elliptical portion is of greater width than the opposite endthereof. A ring-like connector fits over the larger end of theelliptical portion on one link and over the smaller end of theelliptical portion on the adjacent link to hold the links togetherduring the feeding movements thereof. The diameter of the connector isselected to bring the adjacent links together to such extent that thewalls of the channel-shapedsmaller end of the elliptical portion on onelink nest between the walls of the larger channel-shaped end of theelliptical portion on the adjacent link. As a result, twisting betweenadjacent links is limited to the extent permitted by the clearancebetween the walls of the smaller and larger channel-shaped ends of theelliptical portions of the re spective links. This clearance is selectedto limit the twisting between adjacent links so as to prevent thetransmission of the resultant forces to the connector.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of thepreferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a side viewof 10116 of the links of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the link of Fig. 1 looking at the front andsmaller diameter cartridge-gripping ring segments;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the link together with a portion of an adjacentlink to show the connection therebetween during normal feeding movement;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of thelink connection of Fig. 3 but with the adjacent links twisted relativeto one another;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupling portion ofadjacent links to show the nesting relationship therebetween.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the link of the present invention showingthe manner in which the cartridge is stripped therefrom;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing an alternateconstruction for the connection between adjacent links;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the alternate construction ofthe coupling portion between adjacent links- Referring more particularlyto the drawing, the invention is embodied in a unitary cartridge beltlink having a longitudinally extending substantially arcuate bodyportion 12 and a pair of open cartridge loops 13 and 14 projectinglaterally from the front and rear ends, respectively," of body portion12. The opposite sides'of loop 13 comprise substantially planar portions15 projecting outwardly from body portion 12 at an obtuse angle thereto,as best shown in Fig. 2, to continue as opposite segments16 of acartridge-gripping ring. The free or terminal edges of segments 16 maybe turned outwardly as shown at 17 in order to facilitate the insertionof a cartridge 19 therebetween. Segments 16 are arranged to blendintegrally with the outer ends of planar portions 15 and to continueinwardly therebetween as shown at 18 in Fig. 2 for resiliently andreleasably gripping cartridge 19. If desired, continuations 18 ofsegments 16 may meet and form an integral cartridge-gripping portion.However, it has been found that when separate segments 16 are employedas shown in Fig. 2, considerably greater resiliency is obtained.

Since the present invention contemplates the use of a link for holding acartridge with a forwardly tapered case portion, the configuration ofloop 14 is the same as loop 13 but is provided with cartridge-grippingsegments 20 of larger diameter than segments 16. However, whennontapered ammunition is employed, the cartridge-gripping rings of bothloops 13 and 14 are arranged to be of equal diameter. Planar portions 15are cut away as shown at 21 in Fig. 1 to expose the upper ends of ringsegments 16 and 20 and thereby provide an opening for the entry ofopposite inwardly turned flanges on a link support rail 31 fixedlysecured in the cartridge feeding apparatus (not shown). Rail 31 isprovided with a depending stripper cam 32 at either end thereof outsidethe feeding path of the link as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, as the link movesalong rail 31, cams 32 force cartridge 19 out from between ring segments16 and 20 in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis ofbody portion 12 for subsequent alignment with the bore axis of thefirearm barrel.

The exterior periphery of body portion 12 is provided with an arcuaterecess or may be channeled as best shown at 22 in Figs. 1 and 3 and suchchannel is continued along an arm 24 curving outwardly from body portion12 beyond the peripheries of loops 13 and 14. A similarly channeled arm23 of the same configuration as arm 24 but of lesser width relativethereto curves outwardly from the opposite side of body portion 12. Arms23 and 24 combine to form an open ellipse whose major diameter isslightly above and substantially parallel to the transverse axes of ringsegments 16 or 20.

Channel 22 of body portion 12 is necked down as shown at 25 to providethe difference in width between the channel-like configurations of arms23 and 24. Thus, when the links of the present invention are to becoupled to one another to form a continuous belt, the smaller arm 23 ofone link will nest within the larger arm 24 of the adjacent link, asbest illustrated in Fig. 5, and are held in such relationship by aring-like connector 26. It will be noted that the channel walls of arm24 may be flared outwardly at the extreme ends thereof as shown at 27 inorder to permanently retain connector 26 thereon.

Accordingly, when one link is twisted relative to the one adjacentthereto, the channel walls of arm 23 are brought into contact with thechannel walls of arm 24 as best shown in Fig. 4 and not only stopfurther twisting movement between the links but also absorb anyadditional twisting forces imparted thereto after contact between arms23 and 24. Testing of prior art links provided with similar ring-likeconnectors had revealed that the frequent breakages thereof were dueprimarily to the severe loads produced by adding these twisting forcesto the normal tensile forces imparted thereto by the transverse beltpull encountered during feeding of cartridges into a gun. However, thenesting relationship of the links of the present invention substantiallyreduces the total forces imparted to the connectors therebetween andthereby not only prevents breakage thereof but also permits a desirabledecrease in the thickness of the metal from which the links arefabricated. However, if the strength of the link should prove marginal,embossed strengthening ribs 28 and 29 may be formed on body portion 12and planar portions 15 of cartridge loops 13 and 14, respectively.

In the event a greater degree of relative twisting movement is requiredbetween adjacent links to compensate for the limited feeding space andconsequent changes in directions of the guide chutes through which theammunition belt is pulled, the difference in the widths of the channelportions of either of arms 23 and 24 may be varied to increase theclearance therebetween. Furthermore, the clearance between ringconnector 26 and arms 23 and 24 in the nesting positions thereof can becontrolled to provide a larger link pitch and easier disintegratingcharacteristics merely by enlarging the diameter of connector 26accordingly.

In certain firearm designs a closer spacing of the adjacent cartridgesmay be required than that which can be obtained with the construction inwhich both arms 23 and 24 are of channel-like configuration as shown inFigs. 16. Accordingly, the present invention also contemplates a linkwherein the arm having the narrower width, here indicated by numeral 33,is of simple rectangular cross-section as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9.The opposite and wider arm 34, however, is of the same channeledcross-section as that shown and described for arm 24 in Figs. 4.and 5.Arm 33 is, of course, arranged to fit between the channeled walls of arm34 and to be held in such relationship by a rectangular connector 35.While the elimination of the channel-like configuration for one of thecooperating arms provides a somewhat weaker link coupling, the overallthickness thereof is no greater than the height of channeled arm 34alone and consequently permits a much closer spacing between theadjacent links than is possible with the construction shown in Figs.1-6.

Since the width of this alternate connection is greater than.

the height thereof, a ring-like connector such as member 26 of Figs. 3and 5 would permit excessive movement between arms 33 and 34.Accordingly, the shape of connector 35 is made rectangular in order toclosely encircle the channel-like configuration of arm 34. The necessityfor ease of manufacture may also require that connector 35 have asubstantially, rectangular cross-section as illustrated in Fig. 8. Theend of arm 33 is, of course, curved sufliciently as shown at 36 toprevent separation between adjacent links during the feeding movementsthereof into thefirearm.

Thus, there is here provided an improved link of the type which can becoupled to an adjacent link by a separate connector without beingsubjectto the frequent breakages heretofore encountered in the feeding ofammunition along tortuous paths in restricted areas. In addition, thenesting feature of this link permits a desirable reduction in the pitchthereof and consequently contributes toward increasing the rate of fireof the weapon.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised withinthe spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended toinclude such variations I claim:

1; A cartridge belt comprising a plurality of successivecartridge-holding links, each of said links having a'cartridge-grippingportion at either end thereof and an open cartridge-encircling loop ofsubstantially elliptical contour centrally disposed between saidcartridge-gripping por shaped cross-section, and connecting means forcoupling adjacent links with the narrower end of said loop on one linkdisposed within the wider channel-shaped end of said loop on theadjacent link whereby the channel walls of the latter intercept theforces normally imparted to said connecting means during helicaltwisting of the cartridge belt.

2. A cartridge belt comprising a plurality of successivecartridge-holding links and a ring member for coupling each of saidlinks to the one adjacent thereto, each of said links having acartridge-gripping portion at either end thereof and an opencartridge-encircling loop of substantially elliptical contour centrallydisposed between said cartridge-gripping portions, said loop having achanneled cross-section of greater Width at one end thereof than at theother, each of said ring members being positioned to encircle theadjacent ends of said loops on adjacent links and having a smallerdiameter than the juxtapositioned height of said adjacent loop ends toprovide a nesting relationship therebetween for intercepting the forcesnormally imparted to said connecting means during helical twisting ofthe cartridge belt.

3. A cartridge belt link comprising a longitudinal body portion, acartridge-gripping portion at either end of said body portion, a firstarcuate arm of channel-shaped crosssection extending outwardly anddownwardly from the side of said body portion centrally between saidcartridgegripping portions, a second arcuate arm of wider channelshapedcross-section extending from the opposite side of said body portion tocooperate with said first arm and form a substantially elliptical openloop, said loops on adjacent links being connected so that said firstarm fits within the channel-shaped end of said second arm wherebyrelative movement between the adjacent links about the longitudinal axesthereof is limited by the engagement of said first and second arms ofsaid loops.

4. A cartridge belt comprising a plurality of successivecartridge-holding links and a ring member for coupling each of saidlinks to the one adjacent thereto, each of said links comprising alongitudinally extending body portion having oppositely divergent sideportions adjacent either end thereof, a resilient ring segmentintegrally joined to each of said divergent side portions to form a pairof coaxial cartridge-gripping members, an open cartridgeencircling loopof substantially elliptical contour centrally disposed between saidcartridge-gripping members, said loop having a channel-shapedcross-section of greater width at one end thereof than at the other,said ring member being positioned to encircle the adjacent ends of saidloops on adjacent links and having a smaller diameter than thejuxtapositioned height of said adjacent loop ends whereby said narrowerchannel-shaped end is disposed within said wider channel-shaped end tointercept the forces normally imparted to said ring member duringhelical twisting of the cartridge belt, and means on said wider loop endfor preventing removal of said ring member therefrom.

5. A disintegrating cartridge belt comprising a plurality of successivecartridge-holdin links and a ring member for coupling each of said linksto the one adjacent thereto,

each of said links comprising a longitudinally extending body portionhaving oppositely divergent side portions adjacent either end thereof,an open resilient cartridgegripping member disposed between the terminalends of said divergent side portions, one of said cartridge-grippingmembers having a larger diameter than the other to accommodate a taperedcartridge, an open cartridgeencircling loop joined to said bodycentrally between said cartridge-gripping members, said loop having asubstantially elliptical contour with a major diameter larger thaneither of said cartridge-gripping members, said divergent side portionshaving cutaway sections between said loop and said cartridge-grippingmembers to facilitate the lateral stripping of the cartridges therefrom,said loop having a channel-shaped cross-section of greater width at oneend thereof than at the other, said ring member being positioned toreleasably encircle the adjacent ends of said lO0ps on adjacent linksand having a smaller diameter than the juxtapositioned height of saidadjacent loop ends whereby said narrower channel-shaped end is disposedwithin said wider channel-shaped end to intercept the forces normallyimparted to said ring member during helical twisting of the cartridgebelt, said loop having inwardly turned ends normally projectingoutwardly beyond said ring member to prevent removal therefrom duringthe feeding movements of the cartridge belt.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 including outwardly flared Cornerson said Wider loop end for permanently retaining said ring memberthereon without preventing the release of said narrower loop endtherefrom in the absence of feeding tension between adjacent links.

7. A cartridge belt comprising a plurality of successivecartridge-holding links, each of said links having an opencartridge-gripping portion at either end thereof from which thecartridges are adapted to be laterally stripped and an opencartridge-encircling loop of substantially elliptical contour centrallydisposed between said cartridge-gripping portions, said loop beingformed by a first arcuate arm of channel-like cross-section projectingfrom one side of the link and a second arcuate arm of rectangularcross-section projecting from the opposite side of the link, and asubstantially rectangular connector for coupling adjacent links withsaid second arm disposed within the channel of said first arm wherebythe walls thereof intercept the forces normally imparted to saidconnector during helical twisting of the cartridge belt.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 including outwardly flared cornerson the end of said first arm for permanently retaining said connectorthereon without preventing the withdrawal of said second arm from theinterior of said connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,389,960 Dobremysl Nov. 27, 1945

